Robyn Urback: Justin Trudeau's f-bomb might have been a surprise, but it was no accident

I can hear the Conservative attack ad already. Set to a background of melancholy music, the voice of a concerned mother washes over radio listeners:

“There’s so much I worry about as a mom,” she begins. “Justin Trudeau’s potty mouth certainly doesn’t help.”

“Imagine, using the word ‘f–k’ just as casually as ‘middle class’ or ‘political dynasty.’ He’s sending the message that recreational cussing is OK — that’s the last thing I want my kids to think.”

“It doesn’t sound like Justin Trudeau has the kind of judgment we need in a prime minister.”

Authorized by the Conservative Party of Canada

It’s not so far-fetched. In response to Justin Trudeau’s dropping of an f-bomb at a charity boxing match in Gatineau, Que. on Saturday night, the PMO released a statement saying the Liberal leader’s language is “yet another example of Justin Trudeau’s lack of judgment.”

The word popped out as Trudeau was trying the work up the crowd at the Fight for the Cure boxing match, the same event in which he tussled with now-suspended Sen. Patrick Brazeau two years ago.

It was probably less a verbal slip than a strategically planned trial balloon. It’s fairly obvious when an unplanned four-letter word escapes a politician’s lips; Justin Trudeau calling then-environment minister Peter Kent a “piece of s—t” during a 2011 exchange in the House of Commons is one example. Government House leader Peter Van Loan allegedly dropping f-bombs during a heated exchange with NDP leader Tom Mulcair on the House floor in 2012 is another. And pretty much every time Toronto mayor Rob Ford drops a curse word, it’s clear it was driven by impulse, not strategy.

I’d be surprised if there wasn’t at least a little forethought to Trudeau’s Saturday f-bomb. Since he became Liberal leader last year, Trudeau has done an exceptional job of presenting himself as the anti-Harper: Stephen Harper is all about old-school attack ads, while Trudeau wants to see positive campaign advertising. Harper is cripplingly partisan, while Trudeau has moved to make his 32 formerly Liberal senators independents. Trudeau has smoked pot; Harper has asthma. Harper rarely goes off script and won’t take media questions, Trudeau drops an f-bomb at a charity boxing match. Oops. Well, at least it shows that Trudeau is a real guy, not like that square old fuddy duddy, Stephen Harper. Or so we’re supposed to accept.

Warning: Graphic language
Absent any real policy, it’s all we’ve got in terms of sizing up Justin Trudeau. And it’s working. An Ipsos Reid poll conducted last month found that 54% of Canadians agree that they “share Justin Trudeau and the Liberals’ values when it comes to where Canada should be headed.” And despite any meaningful Liberal policy disclosures, the same survey found that 60% of Canadians “agree” that Trudeau’s “policies and ideas are innovative and forward thinking.” But Justin Trudeau doesn’t really have specific policies and ideas — not in any comprehensive way, at the very least. But he has his charisma, and clearly it’s working for him.

Conservative hand-wringing over a “rogue” f-bomb is a great way to galvanize Liberal supporters, and just serves to reinforce the prudish characterization of Harper’s Tories. The Prime Minister hides behind his press secretary while Trudeau excites the crowd at a boxing match. Forget the kids for a second; which guy do you like better?